Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo studio Blizzard Entertainment hits 35 years old — marks its first milestone under Microsoft Gaming
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Blizzard Entertainment is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The iconic American gaming firm was founded in 1991 as Silicon & Synapse. After a brief flirtation with SNES and Genesis ports, it soon forged its identity by rebranding to Blizzard Entertainment and releasing three landmark titles in quick succession: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994), Diablo (1996), and StarCraft (1998). The studio recently became part of Microsoft Gaming, and many younger players know it best for the eSports‑focused FPS Overwatch 2 (see the RTX 4090 performance article).
Early History
Founding and Early Ports
The trio of founders began as Silicon & Synapse, Inc., crafting ports for the dominant 16‑bit consoles of the era.
First Original Titles and Rebranding
In 1993, original games such as Rock n’ Roll Racing and The Lost Vikings were released. The company briefly renamed itself Chaos Studios, Inc., before becoming Blizzard Entertainment in 1994 after being acquired by distributor Davidson & Associates.
Breakthrough Franchises
Warcraft Series
1994 marked the debut of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, launching a franchise that would eventually lead to the hugely popular World of Warcraft.
Diablo and StarCraft
Before the year 2000, Blizzard also released the first entries in the Diablo and StarCraft series, establishing two more enduring pillars of its catalog.
Corporate Changes
- 1998: Blizzard became part of Vivendi Games.
- 2008: Merger with Activision created Activision Blizzard.
- 2013: Activision Blizzard spun out from Vivendi, becoming an independent entity.
- 2023: Blizzard Entertainment joined the Microsoft Gaming division.
Recent Activities and 35th Anniversary
Over the last decade, Blizzard has focused on expanding existing IPs—releasing new versions and expansions for Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, and Overwatch—while maintaining a devoted fan base and the annual BlizzCon event.
To mark its 35th anniversary, the studio launched a social‑media celebration promising “over the next few weeks, each world will showcase what comes next.” Teasers for World of Warcraft and Overwatch have already been released, with upcoming showcases for Hearthstone and Diablo slated for the coming days.
Image credit: Blizzard
